 Ain't and welcome to the city council public comment meeting before mayor Pro Tem Bivens calls the meeting to order that we ask that you please silence all electronic devices For those of you who have requested to speak there are two podiums in the chamber The podium in the back is for individuals with mobility concerns. We ask all others to step forward to the front podium Each podium has a countdown clock located to the speaker's right that will indicate how much time is remind remaining When you have 30 seconds left a bell will sound when your time has ended the bell will sound again And you should complete your comments before you begin your comments Please state your name and thank you and with that I should say thank you Jeanette The meeting for the city council public comment Section is now called to order officially. I would ask that we all stand for the invocation presented by pastor Michael Moore of the new Bethel complete in Christ church Thank you mayor Bivens to the city council members Citizens, let's go to the Lord and prayer Father, we are grateful and thankful For this day, and we thank you for the opportunity to gather together in your name We thank you this day for The presence of our representatives. We thank you for the presence of the citizens of this city The father as we present ourselves before you we asked that you will remove any pride or Selfishness or even carelessness And then fill us with your grace. It was grace to rule with wisdom It was grace if our leaders grace God to lead us with programs and projects And all of the plans that are set before them And then God give us a heart for every citizen in this city from the least To the greatest from those who have much and those who have little let us all Receive the same justice in this place We pray that you will fill our hearts with love that we will learn how to set our differences aside and fill our hearts With love that we can love one another in spite of our differences in spite of what side of Opinions we may have We ask it all in the name of Jesus. We pray amen And now our action item calling for the consideration of the minutes from the January 9th work session The January 9th special call meeting I'm gonna do them all at once The January 9th public comment meeting and finally the January 23rd Council meeting now I'll entertain a motion all in favor any opposed I Don't know how to work. Oh, there it is. Okay So just push your little buttons and with that those minutes are approved We've now entered the public comments section and I will ask for the city secretary to read the names of our speakers Our first speaker will be Bob Willoughby. Let's hope and Maddie be here. But so we got you. I'll just change the whole speech Oh, welcome. Mr. Willoughby We just started a new neighborhood association called drawn Heights neighborhood association That's what we got started today. It's official And it was done with no help from community engagement The John that's that's alright cuz you kind of make it out the John T. White neighborhood association has gone so far To intimidate the people that were on my petition It was gonna be a bigger lines drawn three backed out because they were threatened That they couldn't get stuff done by the city if they were in the drawing Heights because Gina Bibbins owns the John T White neighborhood association That's her neighborhood association Even though she don't live in John T. White Now Some years ago Which John T. White never said I hadn't thought of a thing on their own anyway, but here's something this sign I'm gonna make it out these blue signs. They have the Fort Worth cowhead on there or whatever. I'm missing this on next door Some years ago. I said, you know, we ought to use these all around the city To notify people when there's bond meetings budget meetings Redicitizing educate the people when there's voting. It's not on the website. But anyway, these would be great for that I put that out there since I did that John T. White. Well, they got their sign up or so You can't read it but it says a John T. White neighborhood social on the top picture the red one That's what it said. So I had to look at that for a couple of years knowing that was my ideal Well, we got the drawing Heights going and here are that few years, you know, and we got that going I got a sign underneath it for the drawing Heights neighborhood association. They couldn't stand that They couldn't stand it. They had a fit and that's what mr. Cook. I met with has not answered about I asked him to get this crooked neighborhood social not the better bank, but he won't do it. He protects them. So Anyway, I put that sign it ain't seven days up They take down the whole thing. You see they move it all there's and mine Is that the way a neighborhood social supposed to act? And they didn't cut the city didn't call me about my son. I lost him Now I'm telling you that's shameful and Gina Bibbins knows it's shameful But she supports it and they support her because you know what there's a lot of developing going on John T. White A lot of area for these big rich developers and the price these houses are outrageous and there's a lot of money there So the corruption is just flowing there. But nevertheless, we got a little island started with the drawing Heights neighborhood association and I'm pleased with that. We'll start there and that's good They wouldn't play my video about mr. Crane. He's always joking about our for our rights being taken away Anyway, that's what I had a video for and and if you go to fw district five calm You go to Facebook you go to it passed the rights for you too. It's on there the videos ever worse and you can see him He's a joke. He won't defend himself. He calls us up leadership, but he will not defend itself He will not come out and speak he only attacks from up there where he's protected. Thank you Bob. Good to see you Call the next speaker, please Next speaker is Lawrence Walker You see in the chamber we haven't We haven't been able to reach him we will keep trying Okay That's because the next speaker is Steven Robach Who will be followed by Jonah Murray? Thank you mayor pro-tem and council for allowing me to speak tonight. My name is Steven Robach. I live at 43 12 King Richard Lane in Fort Worth. I'm the president of the candle rich homeowner association and and reason I'm here tonight is I Wanted to speak about this recent murder of a firewood delivery man in our neighborhood about four blocks from where I live by a Resident of a short-term rental property Renting room by room by room now caused me to start looking into it had a lot of calls from my Neighborhood and a lot of people reached out to me and Caused me to start researching it finding out. What can we do to stop these? And I know that you passed an ordinance to prohibit those in single-family zoning and I appreciate that that was a good move you made But the thing I've noticed during my investigation is the fines for these operators are so light That they're ignoring they're paying it and they just keep on going These houses can generate 7,000 to 9,000 a month Your fines are in the neighborhood of $500 first offense Cove doesn't set the fine the municipal judge does across the street They can go from 500 to 1000 Now when you're bringing in seven or eight or nine thousand dollars Per month on a rent house a $500 fine is a bump in the road to them. They're gonna keep on going I'm asking you tonight to look at the fine structure and Consider Rehabilitating that or revising that because I believe to put a stop to these That's what we're gonna have to do is raise the fines to where They will not keep operating if you look on the web There's over 200 of these houses in the Fort Worth in single-family zoned areas still operate Code enforcement doesn't have enough officers the pay for the officers is so low they have a huge turnover and They need more tools they need somebody manning the computers research in where these things are and more officers out psyching them and That's why I'm here now not here to tear anybody down Code enforcement is my friend. They help me on a lot of issues and they're great people And I'm just here to support them and bring them more Ask you to bring them more tools Officers more pay somebody on the computers and higher fines and That is what I'm asking for we could come together work something out beat this thing up Let's get rid of these things for somebody kills a child It's it's disturbing to have somebody die three blocks from you. Thank you. Mr. Roebuck. We certainly will Call the next speaker, please Jonah Murray mayor pro tem Yes Typically, I don't do this and Steve typically doesn't come to public comment And I just I share his same concerns and I would like for our city management team to add this to our future genitives for work Session I didn't put it on earlier, but he brings up a very valid concern. I think it would be appropriate for us to have an update on What work is still not to do after that ordinance that we passed recently and council member Williams I I encourage you to put that in written format While while you're there Thank you. Well, thank you. Next speaker Go ahead. This evening. How's it going? Good evening? My name is Jonah Murray I'm a resident of district nine and seven six one oh four and I am speaking on behalf of myself as a private citizen Each year the human rights campaign scores cities on their municipal equality index Which measures cities inclusion of LGBTQ plus residents Fort Worth score for 2023 is our eighth consecutive 100 a perfect score and The employment practices and leadership categories Fort Worth lost points for the following items Transgender inclusive healthcare benefits zero out of six Inclusive workplace zero out of two Leadership's pro-equality legislative or policy efforts two out of three There are many bonus point categories on the index where cities can make up for lost points Fort Worth was able to do that, but here are some bonus point items that we missed single occupancy all gender facilities zero out of two Protects youth from conversion therapy zero out of two Provide services to LGBTQ plus youth zero out of two Provide services to LGBTQ plus people experiencing homelessness zero out of two Provide services to LGBTQ plus older adults one out of two Provide services to the transgender community zero out of two openly LGBTQ plus elected or appointed leaders zero out of two I Believe the index is a useful tool yet in perfect due to the scoring system And I realized that the city doesn't control how the scoring works I also realized that there are limitations to what cities can do under restrictive state legislation However, while you don't control this the scoring you do control the narrative It is irresponsible for the city to tout its perfect score without being transparent about what we're lacking and making active efforts to improve It's also incredibly disrespectful to the community members. The city is not serving or protecting You cannot claim to be a truly inclusive and supportive city when you treat people like points I am transgender and I'm not a bonus point Transgender people are active and important members of this community and we should be treated as such our lives Our well-being our access to resources should not be treated like an afterthought or something to be overlooked Queer residents and employees of the city of Fort Worth deserve the best that our elected officials City staff and Board and Commission members have to offer I'm committed to doing what I can to improve our city I implore the active participation of the mayor and council to improve city policies and practices and I ask my fellow LGBTQ plus community members to Let their voices be heard we can be we can best create change by working together. Thank you Jonah do me a favor send me that report and I'll get it to the assistant city manager and and we'll take it from there Yes, ma'am. Okay. Will this I said hi Next speaker, please Next speaker is Alonzo Aguilar Alonzo Aguilar Good evening, Mr. Aguilar honorable mayor Council members and staff good evening. My name is Alonzo Jay Aguilar and I am past president of worth has neighborhood association neighbors working together neighborhood associations and the president of Neighbors working together President of An association that is President of the five or six neighborhoods on the south side. I Came here tonight because of the crime district tax situation. I Don't know how many of you have been here During the time of that election But I read the paperwork which I have here on the change that was made by our last mayor Moncree's and Council members that were with him they took and Changed the wording of that tax Committee now in the city council is using the money from what the city manager told me For the district Cost of operating the city. I don't know anything That's in the paperwork that stated that the city could do that The crime tax money is exactly what it was said it was for Operating to reduce the crime in Fort Worth and That was the only thing that money was supposed to be used for I Don't know how many you members were here when the election took place and Why and How it came about that the tax was created the city agreed to appoint seven members of The of their district one member each of their district who controlled the spending of that money Not the city council not the mayor They were supposed to go to the board and ask for whatever it is. They wanted but Someone came to Fort Worth and convinced the council To remove the board Which it had no Authority to do so. I don't know who runs the city. I don't know who watches the law Or takes care of what's going on But that was in in the paperwork The city had no control of the money and could not spend it. Thank you, mr. Regular time is up, but I promise you we'll have someone from the police department probably chief notes get with you and Go over the changes. It has involved has evolved. Thank you so much for coming call the next speaker, please The next speaker will be George Child followed by David Martinez Chief notes will make sure you get his contact. Okay, my name is George running child I live in Fort Worth what follows will be in the form of questions Does the mayor hold a law degree? Did the mayor swear an oath to defend and support the United States Constitution? If so, does the mayor feel that this oath created a duty on her part to ensure equality in this room through uniform enforcement of all rules for Speakers if so, did the mayor ignore any of those when the subjects were increased compensation to her Involved hillwood corporation or Bob Willoughby going off topic in order to praise a police officer Assuming argument though that any of these is true While it was taking place if anyone in the audience had said point of order at the volume Usual when a council member says it would the mayor consider this disruptive and act accordingly Does the mayor have any information or opinion as to why on October 18th 2022? the mayor pro tem did not announce that a council member necessary for quorum was going to leave and Instead waited until that council member was out of camera range To state law loss of quorum and never while council was in session give any reason for this departure As the mayor pro tem ever stated a reason for this departure to the mayor Has the mayor pro tem ever stated to the mayor how she became aware that quorum had been lost Well, June 28th 2022 the district 9 council member told the speaker to keep a subject quote out of your mouth Unquote and that his words would quote fall on deaf ears Unquote the mayor pro tem stated quote He knows nothing unquote and characterize the subject as sisterly does the mayor agree with this conduct When the mayor stated that children had had the quote, you know what unquote scared out of them Did she mean that they had involuntarily urinated and are defecated or mean that as a figure of speech Did the mayor mean for the public to consider a speaker's reference to cutting off the head of the snake as a figure of speech Or as a literal physical threat to her Well, the mayor tell the public what the basis is for her statement that she met with the person who mentioned the head of the snake In spite of his saying that when in fact the meeting came first Is the mayor where a city of the city of Denton internal staff report to Denton mayor number? 2022 day 17 and the case law cited therein Next speaker, please next speaker is David Martinez Good evening council First of all, I'd say my name is David Martinez. I Am in Carter Park neighborhood and I'm here to speak on the seminary corridor project But first I'd like to say my name is I'm I'm my people are from here. I'm indigenous to America I'm a patch to Chirokawa and I'm also indigenous to Israel and Israel Hi There will be no ceasefire until the hostages are returned and I just say also my prayers and thoughts are to the fire Firemen that were injured last night and prayers to them as they continue to draw up every day Rest their lives for us. Okay. I'm here to talk about the seminary corridor project One of the things I want to bring up is a lot of people bring up gentrification But one of the main things I want to talk about is I want to point out child development Begins with economic development We cannot have better schools unless we pay for them a lot of people expect them to come out either our tax property taxes or High density apartments being built or they bring up industrial high heavy industrial Zoning in the neighbors and I know a lot of neighborhood associations do not like that all the meetings I've ever been to not one person has said I want that in my neighborhood in my backyard but I have solution one of the solutions I have is Gambling I believe that if we bring gambling to Texas we will be able to make money and profits and we can avoid high density of Apartments and the other things that other neighborhood associations don't want and fighting the zoning for By bringing that we by shutting down the motels on seminary 935 such as the Days in motel And other ones that are causing problems with the ones that we had in Carter Park We had you know human trafficking Lots of terrible things happening over there but thanks to the forward police department and councilwoman Martinez and councilman nettles and Other council people that helped out and the mayor and in the forward PD we appreciate everything they did to help Carter Park change drastically last summer in August there would be like 30 40 people out there in the streets Prostitution everything was was rampant, but I like to what I want to do before my time is cut off I'd like to tell everybody if you want to have development in Carter Park come talk to me Because we need hotels we need Businesses and we have plenty of land and area that's vacant and ready to be developed. Thank you. God bless Thank you, mr. Martinez call the next speaker please next speaker is martesha James I wanted to talk about the zoning, but more so about the infrastructure, but I'm here on behalf of the echo hikes Stop six environmental coalition. We have a lot of potholes. We have a lot of messed up streets or have paved streets. That's not your neighborhoods Do I clicked it or are you guys picking it? Okay, you can click the next one. Um, these are potholes that are Being created or have been created by the trucking companies that are within our neighborhoods And we have come to city council countless times before to address the issue about the commercial companies are in our area You can go to the next one and these are just a few images of the Damages that are being done to our streets in our community and just to add insult to injury the firefighter truck that was Flipped over this morning earlier this morning had we had lights have we had better? I Guess signaling on the streets. We wouldn't have an issue. I would say we wouldn't have ran into that issue Can you go to the next slide? There have been countless amounts of Countless amounts of information that has been sent through the apps from people in the community have stated that they sent through the apps Emails that have been sent petitions that have been sent Pictures that have been presented to city council before and you go to the next slide and Trucks that are coming through the area in which we have signs that signaling to not allow these trucks to come through our neighborhoods I don't know if you can able able to see it But this is an old man truck coming on Martin Street from the intersection of Martin and Miller Which has a sign that states that there isn't supposed to be any trucks 18 willers coming through that area Well deal down that street and as you can see we already have poor lighting going down the streets all together He go to next slide please and these are just more images emphasizing on the issues that we're Experiencing within our neighborhoods and the changes that we're asking for you guys to make you go to next line these just more images as well up and down Martin coming down Martin and I'm not sure if I can zoom in but on the far right pick on the far right by the conical gas station is a sign that strictly Prohibits trucking companies coming through on that street But as you can see clearly There's a premier trailer on the back of this in my coming through our neighborhood now. I can't say Which truck is causing the damages to our streets? But I am asking that something be done sooner rather than later and because of this incident that we just experienced with the Firefighters on earlier this morning. There should be better lighting. There should be more stops on speed bumps Something should be included in this new plan for our area. Thank you. Thank you Our next speaker will be Carolyn Rodriguez All right, so this speech is not about the chase policy the chase policy specifically But what it's about is the fact that you guys are hiding it from us so for you those who don't know what's going on about this chase policy is that we had a couple of deaths this summer and Because of those deaths than the news people they wanted to know what the policy was So they went to try to get the policy and the chief of police said you can't have it Chase policy. It's a secret. So they went to the Attorney General of Texas and asked for it and the Attorney General said yeah That's that's not a secret y'all can have that chase policy. What why is he trying to hide it from you? He didn't even know Well, the chief didn't like that. So he decided that he still did not want to show the policy So he went to this this console right here now this console right here is spending money for a lawyer to try to The Attorney General and keep it a secret the chase policy is secret Why would you spend that kind of money? I mean what how did he get y'all to change your mind? We won't know because it was in the non-transparent meeting and he asked y'all to block him You know, but the thing is is that is if people I mean It's was he saying it was if you said it was an officer safety issue, you know No officers have died in these chases only only citizens and another thing is is that? the Oh, what was I at? Oh, you have 1,700 patrol officers that know the policy So if a criminal really wanted to know the policy he could find out really easy just by asking maybe one of the patrol officers Who didn't know that all this stuff was going on? So we also have the policy from 2019 so it's probably pretty similar to this one So why are y'all spending money to keep that a secret when it be so easy to figure it out anyways? So also this thing about transparency trust accountability when you guys pin a million dollars on a 97 page report to tell us That the cops are nothing but a bunch of thugs right and the chief stood right here and said I'm gonna win back the trust of the community I'm gonna make them trust me again because I'm gonna do it through trust I'm gonna do it through transparency and accountability. That's what I'm gonna do But we still don't know who about Brandon Zapata the one that got murdered at the mall by the cops We don't know what happened to those officers. We don't know whose cocaine it was that they found in the South division locker room We don't know anybody that stuff So there's no transparency at all still and y'all are helping him hide this policy You're spending our money to hide this policy Now there's still punks. We went out to on 7th Street Manuel and I did and we wanted to check out all the changes That y'all spent money on on 7th Street to make it more safe Well, they put a bunch of light bulbs in and that's about it and added about a hundred cops So we went out there this last Sunday or was it Saturday night Saturday night and meanwhile walked across the street And when he walked across the street where it was no crosswalks no traffic lights residential area They are the officers arrested him for jaywalking who gets arrested for jaywalking Manuel does and when they got into the patrol car and sat there for a while they figured out Oh, we can't give him we can't arrest him for jaywalking because that's just an infraction So they conspired they changed it into evading arrest Manuel didn't evade as soon as he walked across the street. They grabbed him So where's this transparency and where's this trust and where's this accountability? I don't see none of it Thank you Call the next speaker The next speaker will be Abigail Christian. My name is Abby and today I am speaking to you full of humility and pride to be standing in solidarity with the beautiful souls of Palestine Close your eyes and imagine it is your children dying Haunted by memories of what once was your home now destroyed and left behind Hearing your mother's aching cries knowing deep in your bones that this is not the first time Now, what will you do will you run or fight or will you continue to sit in silence? desensitized and reaching Reaching clawing for any thread that allows you to justify a River so wide of blood the color of that succulent fruit clinging to a green rind like the rich colors of Palestine They owe us nothing us a country who denies and yet still They open our eyes to so much more than the truth You see you do well to learn a thing or two from them from Palestine Their faith is rooted like olive trees their strength the limbs reaching for the certainty of liberation You don't need to look closely to see how they tightly hold kindness in their fist Despite their tired hearts that are broken in pieces like the buildings and people around them Have you heard have you heard about entire family lines killed from a single airstrike or Those who crawled out from the rubble haunted by the pleas of those who did not survive Do you understand that having all your limbs intact feeling the weight of a simple meal in your belly and the warm Embrace of your child is not something to take for granted. We know this is not right So why why won't you call for a ceasefire? Have you heard about hind? Where is she where is that sweet child with dreams hind a six-year-old girl who is in the car with her family? When they died shot by Israeli soldiers before her eyes We have not heard from her about her been able to reach her. Where are you sweet hind? I am sorry. You are alone sweet hind in their unimaginable grief They are not afraid to cry to wear vulnerability as clearly as a journalist vest courageously 75 years of occupation and now 122 days of genocide the wind is weighed down with their cries their eyes Collectively lifted to the sky watching bombs fall and claim their family's lives 30,000 martyrs and still in their grief They will rise their loyalty and love for their home ensures that no matter how hard you try There and our resistance will never die. Thank you. That's from the river to the sea free Palestine Call the next speaker the next speaker is Asiah Jeffrey Lois the members of the Fort Worth council. Thank you for having me back Last month I had the opportunity to speak in front of this count So I talked a lot about American history and since that day history has been made for the worse Since I lost track of this council our president Mr. Joe Biden is the first president in history to have a lawsuit filed against him For complicitancy and genocide. I Know this may seem Indistant from the safe confines of the Fort Worth City Council But it is crucial to recognize that Your constituents have been fervently urging you for a ceasefire resolution for months each day without a call for an immediate ceasefire places is you essentially on the same side as President Biden and Contributing complicitancy and this grave matter regardless of the eventual legal ruling In aligning with such a stance is not favorable in the eyes of history since I last spoke to you around 6,400 people in Gaza have died half of which were children killed by 21,600 tons of explosives which in destructive power is the same as The atomic bomb little boy retreat such havoc and Hiroshima There remains an opportune moment to support a ceasefire Resolution especially given the anticipated ruling by the International Court of Justice Like which is likely to label the situation as a genocide I'd I urge you I Earnestly urge you not to align and with the stance of complicity when such a verdict is delivered Time is still on your side to actively sponsor and pass a ceasefire resolution Should there be any need for clarification or further understanding? Extending invitation for us to provide a better understanding of the situation We stand ready and willing to assist you in ensuring that your decisions aligned with the principles of justice and compassion This is the time when history has its eyes on you. So don't throw away a shot. Thank you for letting me speak The next speaker is Rachel G Good evening council. My name is Rachel and I am resident of district 9 and tonight I'm speaking from my heart from my Nashama my Jewish soul and from my Jewish values that compel me to speak up and call for an Immediate and permanent ceasefire and to encourage the council to support a ceasefire resolution When I last spoke in November over 10,000 Palestinians had been killed by Israel And that number has now nearly tripled with thousands still trapped under the rubble I think about the chaos that ensued here in Fort Worth from the accidental explosion downtown recently and imagined that level of fear and trauma Magnified by the thousands in Gaza from explosions that took place on purpose. I know there's a question of what role the city council In in United States can play in this broader issue but 70 cities across the country have passed resolutions calling for ceasefire and I also only need to point to the fact that as tax-paying citizens millions of our own US dollars go directly to fund Israeli weapons and bombs that are being used against Gazans at this very moment So it's crucial for us as you know residents of America's largest cities to take a firm position Against ongoing violence that is waged on Palestinians that really began long before October 7th These issues are also impacting us directly at home, too We've been seeing hate motivated attacks on the rise a young Palestinian American from Dallas was Recently stabbed on Sunday in Austin requiring surgery and he was targeted simply for having a Palestinian flag It is dangerous for us to ignore the kind of dehumanizing language that's being used against Palestinians As a Jew I also know that the kinds of rhetoric that is used against my own community Stems from the same forms of hatred that motivate Islamophobia and xenophobia Cleveland City Council's only Jewish representative Rebecca Maurer Recently gave an impassioned speech in favor of a ceasefire resolution saying that Jewish safety is forever Intertwined with Palestinian safety and we can only be safe together And this is a core principle of mutual responsibility that I take from my own tradition The Torah demands us low to a mode Aldam reyekha. You must not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor From Leviticus So let's not harden our hearts and stand idly by while the blood of our neighbors and their families are shed with U.S. funded weapons manufactured in our own backyard here in Fort Worth and that is why I urge us and urge this council to act Lastly, I want to encourage every member of council to please accept any invitation to meet with members of this community tonight to hear their stories You will find that we are rational We are reasonable and really what we're demanding is the preservation of life above all We want to look back on this moment knowing we all did what we could to save even one more life because in Jewish Teaching every life is an entire world the humane path forward the only way to preserve life is to call for a permanent ceasefire now Thank you Our next speaker is Russia. I'm our Salaam alaikum My name is Russia. I'm odd. I'm American Palestinian from Gaza I've seen it today for my people in Gaza My heart hate my heart weighs heavy with the recent loss of 20 family members just a week ago due to this ongoing genocide I Lost 20 family members within the time span of five days I don't want to scar you too deeply with a dehumanizing way. They were each murdered But I'll give you one example My aunt and her three kids were first displaced from their home the home. They grew up in the home that held so many memories The home that was demolished in October Due to their displacement, they had to take refuge in a tent just a week ago They were shot in their tent and ran over with a bulldozer They didn't get the didn't get the chance to live a long life and grow old They were taken from this life too soon all the dreams they once had were ended at the piercing of a bullet I've been dreaming of meeting my family but that dream has been stripped of me Even before October is that has been an open-air prison. This isn't the first time Israel has taken my family from me We can't even mourn them because there's not enough pieces of their body to bury Children are writing their names on their forearms to be identified when married when murdered They have to grow up to the reality of this evil world too soon. They have never they have never gotten the chance to be kids Dear counsel, I want you to take a second with me and imagine How would you feel if your children were stripped away from you? How would you feel in a blink of an eye? You lost your home in every member of your family? How would you feel to have to look for the body parts of your children or brother or sister or the body parts of your father and Mother and all you find is pieces and that's if you find pieces Imagine the fear of not knowing whether your child or loved one is alive suffering under the rubble One of the children of Reza going to get to grow up and be kids One of the mother and the father stopped fearing for the lives of their children We are called humans. We are called human animals yet animals have been treated better than us Nowhere is safe in Gaza members of the council Please do not turn the blind eye to the blood that stains the streets of Palestine So the cries of innocent children buried under the rubble of their homes Please join us in a demand in a demand for an immediate ceasefire The children of Reza are tired of empty promises. We cannot handle any more excuses for the slaughter of our loved ones How we how do we how can we keep explaining to them that the that the children of the that the children's lives are not worth saving? We need action change. We need to end this sense of violence. I'm here today as the voice for the voiceless Let the people of Reza that are bleeding and screaming out for help. They need help. They need our help Let's stop ignoring their calls. Let their voices be heard members of the council We need a ceasefire. We need our tax money to stop funny this genocide members of the council Please join me in being a voice of the voiceless. Please help give the children of Reza a chance at life They deserve to live Thank you Our next speaker is Ali Dawah Our next speaker is Libby Herdia Good evening. My name is Libby Herdia I'm a resident of council district 6 and I am here to ask the city of Fort Worth pass the resolution for an immediate and permanent Cease fire in Palestine as a Fort Worth resident I see the consistent manner in which members of this council take the initiative to act when they see a need that Needs to be fulfilled in the city Whether it be the efforts that this council and mayorship have made to make menstrual products accessible in city facilities Or the work members of this count this council have has done towards achieving education equity for all children Or the championing of justice for those who have been unjustly killed in police altercations That should never have occurred in the first place the deep respect and commitment that this council holds for the safe Safety well-being and human dignity of its constituents is readily apparent as such I invite you to put yourselves in the shoes of the civil servants in Gaza who for the past 123 days have been struggling to meet the basic needs of their community as they endure near constant bombing campaigns The destruction of vital infrastructure and imposed famine How can anybody care for their community without access to clean water? electricity medical supplies or anywhere near sufficient humanitarian aid Over 29,000 bombs have been dropped on an area that is less than half the size of Fort Worth 1.9 million people have been internally displaced and crammed into an area that is less than one-seventh the size of our city Women in Gaza have been forced to use rags instead of menstrual products for months now Schools packed with hundreds of internally displayed civilians have have been bombed and doctors in Gaza are being forced to carry out Amputations on children without anesthetics all while members of the Israeli administration Engage in genocidal language and make their intent to ethnically cleanse Gaza publicly known Young journalists like be son blessed and what doesn't hint risk their lives to report on the brutality that their people are Experiencing so that we sitting in this room might listen My fellow community members now are here because we deeply acknowledge the humanity and suffering of another civilian Population we cannot sleep. We cannot eat. We cannot laugh. We cannot celebrate We can't even hold our loved ones without thinking of the 27,000 lives that have been lost in Gaza during this genocide Over 40% of them children. We ask this council to please not look away Our deep sympathy and grief goes beyond political affiliation because it is also clear that party leadership on both sides of the aisle Has abandoned their very hearts by failing to call for a ceasefire and end to this genocide on the national stage But we the people have not We ask you to amplify our voices and help us answer the call for help reaching us from Gaza as members of the global community We ask you to assert the indisputable value of human life at a time when millions of lives hang in the balance Please pass the ceasefire resolution now leg as a live and free Palestine. Thank you Our next speaker is Maryam Fattah Good evening everyone. Thank you for your time today My name is Maryam. I am a teacher and I live here in Fort Worth in district three with my husband Why I'm also speak on speaking on behalf of Before I begin I want to acknowledge that I watched Councilwoman Beck read the proclamation for the Jewish Federation of Fort Worth and The fear and sadness in your voice was very real And I know and understand that feeling very much especially in the past few months as You said in your speech. This is not just about what is happening overseas. This is about protecting the Jewish community here in Fort Worth When I speak, I hope you understand that I am here to do the same thing today and Call on you to help me protect my family my friends many of whom are standing behind me tonight I am asking you to help protect us against the blatant racism and Islamophobia that has risen in the past few months And that has been used to justify violence against American Arabs and Muslims On January 19th an American citizen named Tophika Jacques was shot in the West Bank by the IDF He was only 17 years old. He was born and raised in Louisiana He is one of 95 children killed by the IDF in the West Bank since October My husband's younger cousin was in the car with him These boys were on their way to have a picnic My husband's cousin will have to live with this trauma for the rest of his life My husband who is also an American has told me stories about visiting his family in the West Bank Him and his friends would often drive or hike somewhere to picnic. This is not unusual. This is not unlike what we do here in Texas Yet many Americans scoffed at the news of his death They couldn't believe that they were on their way to do something as normal as picnic They believed that they were guilty simply because they were Palestinian and that Tophika deserved to die This could have been my husband. This could have been my brother To think that they could be shot and killed and that their fellow Americans Would justify their deaths That is terrifying Passing a ceasefire resolution is not just about saving innocent lives overseas It is about protecting American Arabs and American Muslims here in Fort Worth It is about taking a stand for justice and for peace for all. I Want for my neighbors what I want for my own family. I want for your family's Protection against hate and bigotry. I'm only asking for you to want the same thing and to work for the same thing for my family Thank you. Thank you Our next speaker is Taha Taha Salaamu Alaikum May peace and blessings be upon each and every member of the council. I Want to start by saying thank you for taking the time to hear us on this very important matter It's Taha and I'm an attorney working here in Fort Worth. I was born in Bidya a city in the occupied West Bank in Palestine I have been a resident of Tarran County for over two decades now. I'm a proud Palestinian American Count council members as an attorney. I took an oath to uphold the laws of the Constitution and the laws of this great state. I Ought a duty to my clients and my community to ensure that their rights are not infringed upon as Americans we pride ourselves in being the greatest nation in the world Our roles as a nation are to safeguard the rights of the world I'm sure you've heard of the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel at the hog The International Court of Justice found that the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel Indicate that a genocide being committed against the Palestinian people people is plausible a federal court judge in California Urges the Biden administration to act in preventing these atrocities committed finding the Israel's actions amount to a genocide since the International Court's decision in Which Israel was urged to take all efforts in protecting civilians Israel has killed thousands Palestinians children woman elderly Since October 7th the death toll is nearing 30,000 with an additional 67,000 injured Entire families are being decimated Members of the council Palestine has been under siege and direct military occupation for the last 75 years This did not begin on October 7th. I Urged you to follow the Following the footsteps of Chicago the biggest city in the United States to pass the ceasefire resolution Let's set the stage and become an example for others to follow Council members when our kids ask us about this genocide in the future Let us be proud and telling them that we acted and we're on the right side of history free Palestine. Thank you Our next speaker is Grace Rudd Yes, go ahead. Thank you for allowing me to speak tonight First of all, I'd like to acknowledge that we are meeting on the lands which many native tribes Have lived on and we're pushed out of Fort Worth tells you everything you need to know about that I myself am Representing my heritage as a descendant of a German Jew Apache and Meshika tribes We survived and we made it out and a lot did not You've heard a lot of good stories about that tonight though, so I'm not gonna bore you Let's talk about what you actually care about which is money You proved it because only two of you. Thank you Charles. Thank you island Voted against a two point two three percent increase in taxes this year What are those taxes go towards? It's not fixing those potholes by the way It's not making our communities better or safer. It's not for all of these things which many of you campaigned on Elizabeth Beck I know what it is like to be scared But to say that you support a state Which is murdering? So many is Not right and I'm ashamed to live in your district and I'm glad I didn't vote for you The largest military base is in Texas what is Palestine have to do with Texas the largest military base is in Texas Everyone here knows what Lockheed is Everyone here knows what Elbit is Everyone here knows there's an Air Force base There is nothing about what does that have to do with Texas and DFW and Fort Worth Other states might be able to say that we can't We accepted federal money Now, I mean sure Fort Worth on its own sends almost 12 million dollars to Israel as is That's a lot of money But it's okay because the federal government last year Sent Fort Worth and the state of Texas as a whole over 80 billion dollars for defense funds These were for contracts weapons training And arming all of the people that are murdering children right now What does Palestine have to do with Texas? What does Palestine have to do with Fort Worth? everything When you can drive Within two hours to multiple weapons dealers That are federally funded it has a lot to do with it It is not just symbolic and it is important that you listen to us It is not just Jews who are experiencing increase in hate crimes as has been stated There have been attacks on Palestinians. Thank you miss. We have to stand together Please call the next speaker next speaker is Mohammed Council members, my name is Mohammed rookie district five. I'm at a loss for words. Honestly having listened to a very eloquently especially The sister who lost 20 family members and we prayed Which call in the Mazenaza for her which is a prayer in the absence of the actual deceased body for 20 members So I don't actually know how to Talk about this after after her ordeal We absolutely are very familiar with Holocaust after that we said what never again. Well, guess what? This is Holocaust revision to with souped up on You know, I just don't have the words to describe this Because the Holocaust happened over months or years. This is happening Every day at a time and a scale with just the sheer numbers that it's just hard to comprehend It's just very hard to comprehend and we have everything to do with it What we're asking is actually it doesn't cost a dime to for birth is your good word to take it to the next level Help us take it to the next level. I'm gonna share some some pictures here and this is before and after This and this is my sources are honesty guardian BBC Jazeera and NPR so so you can see here This is just a neighborhood. Look if you can see here This is at before and this is after right and this is the University of Gaza This these two pictures are University of Gaza This is also University of Gaza and this is the Gaza city center. This is from the Guardian coming to the next slide, please This is so the squares here are Supposed to tell you exactly where the pictures match for before and after also the University of Gaza and this is a neighborhood I counted 30 buildings here I counted 30 buildings here right in this area and these were seven stories I kind of seven and five stories and look at this obliteration here and then and I have dates here in the captions here, but I just can't read because it's It's it's a neighborhood that's destroyed and they're all over From God from God north of Gaza all the way to Rafa and please go to the next slide These are two mosques here. This is the Yassin Mosque and this is again. I had the captions here I don't I can't read it here obviously These are two mosques are destroyed. This is a neighborhood in Gaza and this is a house a rebuilding that was destroyed I can't fathom like the sheer number and the bombs that we're dropping that are made right here not in our name Not on our watch and not certain me to add in so to injury with our tax dollars. Thank you, sir And thank you all for coming tonight and with that One more speaker our next speaker is Muhammad a dog Muhammad a dollar Apologize for that and I believe you have a group Who is here to give you additional time if you signed up to give him time Could you please stand so I can count it doesn't include folks who spoke tonight? So if you spoke don't sit. Okay, you're good. Mr. Abdul Good evening mayor of Fort Worth an honorable esteemed council members. My name is Muhammad Abdullah I'm named after the prophet of Islam peace and blessings be upon him. I Greet you with the greetings of Islam Peace and blessings be upon you all as salamualaikum I'm an African-American and a Native American to this country this gate country of the United States of America I'm a second generation Muslim and I tell you this because I want you to understand what this Genocide and I will call it a genocide and I'll explain to you why what this means to me and my people First I want to tell the people of Palestine and the people of Gaza That the United States citizens have not forgotten about you We the people of the United States of America are not like our government necessarily Oftentimes we don't agree and There are millions of us who actually support your plight There's in a day that goes by that. We don't pray for you all people of Gaza Not only Muslims Christians Jews atheists are praying for your Existence and was that we haven't forgotten about you because your plight isn't just a cry for help It isn't just a cry for justice. It's an unwavering unyielding battle for the most basic of human principles Unalienable rights, I know that sounds familiar to you all because we're in a government building and I'm sure The Declaration of Independence exists somewhere in this building as I stand before you in this government federal facility Which has within it? the Declaration of Independence with specifically notes three unalienable rights life Liberty and the pursuit of happiness But we know those rights aren't equal for everybody even in that declaration You mr. Chris and you sister Gina and myself would have only been considered three-fifths of a human being in that Declaration so those rights aren't always equal to everybody. Let's be honest The life of a Palestinian is as important as the life of somebody from South Oak Cliff Dallas Or as important as the life of somebody from stop six or South Lake or West Lake Life is equal regardless of race religion or ethnicity. I Come to you representing the oldest community of Muslims in North Texas I'm the Imam of Mesut Ellis lamb in South Dallas and I also do a lot of work here in Fort Worth, Texas. I Want to tell the people of Gaza and my esteemed council members. I live in district five Sister bevin some living your district. Okay. I look forward to getting to talk to you a little bit more about our issues I want to tell you that we don't support The three hundred billion dollars that the United States government has sent to Israel since its inception Meanwhile, there are 650,000 homeless people in this country There are six million people without jobs and What about the veterans and I'm speaking to you from a family of veterans my father fought for this country My brother fought for this country When we send them out to endlessly commit genocide against other underprivileged people They come back without those same benefits That we give other countries who we deem Quantified unnecessary 50,000 homeless veterans Sister came up here talking about the the streets and stop six. They got potholes so deep I could put my knee in them Yet we send in we send in billions and billions of dollars overseas. Why to kill innocent people? Yes, an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere and the words of Martin Luther King Because just the other day when we had the state right wide rally in Austin anti-Islamic and Islamic phobia is rising and a young brother from this very from Our neighboring community in Arlington his father is brother Nizar We're very familiar with him. He got stabbed after that rally So an injustice to any people anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere and when the alternative to a ceasefire is Oppression and death and we must continue to fight for freedom in The words of my ancestor Malcolm X by any means necessary and Today's means is a ceasefire We asked that you jump on board with this Texas was the last state to free the slaves. Don't let it be the last state to call for a ceasefire Get on board with this now, please. We're asking and we've been asking for months But when death and oppression is the result and the alternative than that asking will turn to demands Let's jump on board with this. We don't need to keep on sending money out to kill innocents We have this Resolution that we want you to support which has already been adopted by the United States or the United Nations in favor of adopting a resolution to Demand immediate ceasefire an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages we as Muslims myself first I'm a Muslim then an American We as Muslims do not condone any violence against any innocent people and we demand all hostages to be released in our name Thank you, mr. Abdullah. Thank you and tonight's meeting is adjourned